My wonderful Experience with Harvey Norman.

Ok, I'd use twitter for this, but it's going to be way over 140 characters.

I've been checking out big-screen TV's for a while, and after looking around and shopping at JB Hifi, where the staff were really, really helpful, I decided I wanted a Samsung Series Six LCD. Great...so I get the best price JB Hifi can do, which was around $3800ish. I then go to my local Harvey Norman store, Cleveland, to see what they can do. The first salesman I get, whose name I can't remember, was really helpful. Talked to me about what I'd need, and then more-than-matched JB's price on the tv. In fact, he got it down to $3700. Great. Then he said that an extra four years warranty is $349. Amazing. I then asked about media centres/servers, to which he said he didn't know about, and he got another salesman who did. Said his goodbyes and left.

After chatting about media centres for a while, I decided I wanted the TV (plus a power surge protector) and this new salesman completed the sale. I wanted the year-long deferred payment option, which is offered by HN through GE Money (yes, friends, that same GE money that everyone is scared of). They couldn't approve me on-the-spot, which is fair enough as I'm 23 and own my own business. The second salesman said it would take a day, and he would ring me when they had an answer.

At 4pm the next day, I rang HN to see if there was indeed an answer, after being transferred twice, I was put onto someone who said he was with a customer and would ring me back. 30-45 minutes later I got a response saying that he'd talked to GE and that I needed to supply them with proof of income, which was my tax assesment.

I'm going to cut out my dealings with GE money, because that's not the point of this explanation. I'll continue with THAT at another time.

Anyway, two days later, I go into Harvey Norman, after things taking FAR too long with GE. Basically, GE are slightly discriminatory to people with their own businesses, and with accounants, which I couldn't fix until my accountant came back after the new year (in which time the bonus Samsung TV promotion would be ended, which I wanted to cash in on). This is what happened:

- I wait 15 minutes by the sales desk until one of the salesmen sees me (fair enough, he seems to be the only TV guy there, and there's about 20 people looking at TV's)

- We then start talking, and upon looking at the computer he's on, he sees that my second salesman hadn't reserved the TV, even though I'd all but bought the damn thing, and it was the last one in stock.

- He then spends 10 minutes on the phone with someone who'd rung to ask about their DVD player, or something.

- I explain that I just want to buy the TV outright, and not do the finance thing, to which he says ok. I then have to repeat the price i was quoted twice to him , because he forgot it the first time.

- He then reveals that there is no carton for this TV, as it is a display model. I put out there that this is probably a good thing to tell me when I came in the first time. He then says that delivery is $55, but he'll do it for $30. I point out that I would expect that for a $4000 TV that they would have to do better than that. He says he'll have to ask his boss. When he can't find his boss, he says that he'll just do it for free anyway. Surely he could have done that right off the bat, and saved me the stress.

- He then asks what time I will be home tonight. I initially tell him I'll be unavailable, but then let him know that I can actually be home tonight, shelving my personal plans. He says, suddely, that it might not be possible, because they can't reach their delivery driver. He rings said driver and leaves a message. I can't have it delivered tomorrow, as I'm going to be working NYE, being in the entertainment industry and all. I then say that I'll just go home and grab some straps, as I'd bought my van to put the TV in, as I thought it would have it's box. I go to leave and go 'I'll see you in a couple of minutes'. He then says to wait at home, as he might not be able to pack it, as he's the only person in the department.

So here I am, at home, waiting for a phone call to pick up my TV, that I've paid for on my credit card, because GE money is rediculous. I'm about ready to hit a wall because Harvey Norman (and GE combined) have made something that should be immensely pleasurable draw itself out over three days with a lot of stress. If I'd known it would take this much effort with HN, I would have just spent the extra $200 and bought it from JB. In fact, I'm wondering why I pulled out my card today at all.

There. Done.

Another Whinge

Because I can.

Dear Support act.

1. You're not the main act. Don't make demands.

2. I'm not going to spend thirty minutes slaving over your accoustic sound. See point 1.

3. Try and bring your own guitar and stomp box leads. Kids do that, why can't you?

4. I'm the guy mixing. If your boyfriend backseat-mixes behind me, I'm going to intentionally make your sound worse.

5. The reason you can't hear your guitar in your foldback when you pick versus when you strum is because YOU STRUM STUPIDLY LOUD AND PICK STUPIDLY SOFT. And no, I'm not going to change your foldback level each song.

FFS. We had a great support act last night, and now the one that's stuck with us for the rest of the tour bar one night is a total prat.

Life is grand.

On the upside, the PM has now become a really good bloke, and wants to use our company for all his Qld dates. I'm a happy kid.

A new Season begins: Shallow Red Folk-Ensemble

Hey guys,

I'm touring with the Shallow Red Folk-ensemble (name changed to protect the innocent) from March 16 to April 20, and will be blogging about it s we go. Hopefully, if I get my crap together, I'll also be doing a video of it.

the dates are:

MARCH 18 PARRAMATTA, Riverside Theatre, NSW
Box Office (02) 8839 3399 or online www.riversideparramatta.com.au

MARCH 19 NEWCASTLE, City Hall, NSW
Box Office (02) 4974 2996 or online www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au

MARCH 20 TAREE, Manning Entertainment Centre, NSW
Tickets from Video Ezy Taree, phone (02) 6552 5699 OR (02) 6592 5466

MARCH 24 BATHURST, Memorial Entertainment Centre, NSW
Box Office (02) 6333 6161 or online www.bmec.com.au

MARCH 27 NOWRA, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, NSW
Box Office (02) 4429 5758 or online https://shoalhavenentertainment.com.au

MARCH 29 CANBERRA, Canberra Playhouse, ACT
Box Office (02) 6275 2700 or online www.canberratheatre.org.au

APRIL 1

GRIFFITH, Regional Theatre, NSW
Box Office (02) 6961 8388 or online www.griffith.nsw.gov.au

APRIL 3 SHEPPARTON, Westside Performing Arts Centre, VIC
Box Office (03) 5832 9511 or online www.riverlinksvenues.com.au

APRIL 5 BALLARAT, Her Majesty's Theatre, VIC
Box Office (03) 5333 5888 or online www.hermaj.com

APRIL 7 PORT PIRIE , Keith Mitchell Theatre, SA
Box Office (08) 8633 8500 or online www.northernfestivalcentre.org.au

APRIL 9 BROKEN HILL, Entertainment Centre, NSW
Box Office (08) 8080 3300

APRIL 10 MILDURA, Arts Centre, VIC
Box Office (03) 5018 8330 or online www.milduraarts.net.au

APRIL 12 WARRNAMBOOL, Eva Gasper Theatre, VIC
Box Office (03) 5559 4999 on online www.entertainmentcentre.com.au/

APRIL 16 IPSWICH, Civic Theatre, QLD
Box Office (07) 3810 6100 or online www.ipswichcivichall.com.au/festival_of_theatre/events/

APRIL 17 GOLD COAST, Arts Centre, QLD
Box Office (07) 5581 6500 or online www.gcac.com.au/

APRIL 19 TOOWOOMBA, Empire Theatre, QLD
Box Office 1300 655 299 or online www.empiretheatre.com.au

APRIL 24 BUNDABERG, Moncrieff Theatre, QLD
Box Office (07) 4153 1985 or online http://bundaberg.qld.gov.au/moncrieff/

MAY 1 LISMORE, City Hall, NSW
Box Office 1300 066772 or online www.norpa.org.au




...so come along and say hi!

Corporate Branding

....oh Yeah!

Sydney Sillyness

Bad Trent.

Volume and Sound Design

I've just finished reading a really good blog post on the escalating volumes in sound design, and how it relates to everyone. Anyone with an interest in audio, or theater, should give it a read.

It's here:

http://nikku.net/blog/should-i-dress-as-sound-hitler-or-sound-pol-pot/

The ‘TGIHAB’ tour part 12 – The way home

So I’m sitting at Dubai airport waiting for our flight home.

We’re finally on the way home. Duty-free shopping is planned for Singapore. Presents for my favourite girly, alcohol for the band, a shirt for me (crazy shirt Fridays will be excellent from now on).

Here’s us all ready to come home.



More from Singapore….

Peace!

The ‘TGIHAB’ tour part 11 – in reference to Previous parts.

Here’s the reason I want to settle down with an Arab girl.



That's all.